City Report · CA

Palos Verdes Estates

Pop. 12,925·4th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$6,933/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-17.6%

vs US Median

+$5,001

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Palos Verdes Estates · $6,933

More expensive than 100% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

34% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $6,933/mo, rent takes about 34% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$277,000/yr

Local median income

$242,014/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Palos Verdes Estates's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($242,014) is $6,050 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,501).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Palos Verdes Estates. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$83,196/yr

At $6,933/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are down 0.0% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -17.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Palos Verdes Estates, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 79.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

12,925

Median income

$242,014

Median age

52.4

Renters

10.3%

Age distribution

24.1%

23.1%

18.1%

27.2%

Under 1824.1%

18–347.5%

35–5423.1%

55–6418.1%

65+27.2%

Gender

49.1%

50.9%

Male49.1%

Female50.9%

Race & ethnicity

61.7%

24.7%

White61.7%

Black3.8%

Hispanic4.9%

Asian24.7%

Other4.9%

Education (25+)

14%

79.6%

No HS diploma2.4%

HS diploma4%

Some college14%

Bachelor's+79.6%

Housing tenure

89.7%

Owner89.7%

Renter10.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Palos Verdes Estates, CA has changed in 5 years

Income

$202,569 → $242,014

up 19.5%

Population

13,403 → 12,925

down 3.6%

Renter share

11.6% → 10.3%

-1.3 pts

Bachelor's+

81.5% → 79.6%

-1.9 pts

Median age

51.8 → 52.4

+0.6 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $202,569 to $242,014 across the same window, up 19.5% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 13,403 to 12,925 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.6% change.

Community

Discussions about Palos Verdes Estates

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View Palos Verdes Estates rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Palos Verdes Estates on your salary?

At $6,933/mo, how Palos Verdes Estates rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 74.6% income

severely rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 105.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 91.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 51% income

severely rent-burdened

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 40% income

stretched

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 112.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 124.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 100.9% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Palos Verdes Estates rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Palos Verdes Estates. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Palos Verdes Estates

About renting in Palos Verdes Estates, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Palos Verdes Estates is $6,933/mo as of October 2026.

At 34% of local median household income ($242,014/yr), Palos Verdes Estates ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Palos Verdes Estates?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $277,000/year (about $133/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $6,933/mo in Palos Verdes Estates. The local median household income is $242,014/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Palos Verdes Estates?

Rent in Palos Verdes Estates has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Palos Verdes Estates rent compare to other cities in California?

Palos Verdes Estates is one of the pricier among California cities for rent, ranking #4 of 382 tracked cities at $6,933/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Palos Verdes Estates?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Palos Verdes Estates ($6,933/mo) include Lomita ($2,888/mo), Torrance ($3,006/mo), and Redondo Beach ($3,483/mo).

Income Affordability

34%

MODERATE

At $6,933/mo, rent takes ~34% of Palos Verdes Estates's median household income ($242,014/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Palos Verdes Estates 34%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Palos Verdes Estates affordability calculator →

Nearby cities